‘Hawkeye’ Shakes MCU, Proves ‘Agents of SHIELD’ Is NOT Canon

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samuel l. jackson as nick fury (left) and clark gregg as agent phil coulson in marvel's the Avengers

Credit: Marvel Studios

The Hawkeye series on Disney+ may be lagging on views compared to its predecessors WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, but it is setting up to be the one that will shake up the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse the most.

Spoilers for Episode 5 of Hawkeye “Ronin” Below

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hailee steinfeld as kate bishop (left) and jeremy renner as clint barton (right) in hawkeye
Credit: Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios may be trying to hide some of the cameos coming in the final two episodes of Hawkeye but everyone already knows that Vincent D’Onofrio is returning as Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin. The mysterious “Uncle” of Maya Lopez AKA Echo (Alaqua Cox) could hardly be anyone else.

D’Onofrio’s inclusion and the now confirmed return of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil has fans wondering if Kevin Feige has plans to make the Netflix marvel shows, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Defenders officially MCU canon. Or if he is just using the new Marvel Multiverse to have the best of both worlds.

However, the final episode of Hawkeye suggests that the show has done exact opposite with another fan-favorite MCU series, Agents of SHIELD.

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Left Linda Cardellini as Laura Barton, Right Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton aka Hawkeye in Avengers Age of Ultron
Credit: Marvel Studios

The reveal that Rolex that Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is hunting down in episode 4 belongs to his wife, Laura Barton (Linda Cardellini). And the number 19 inscribed on the back with the SHIELD logo confirms that she is Agent 19 AKA Mockingbird. In Hawkeye, Laura helps Clint track down the Rolex with her own contacts and has shown multiple times she is familiar with the spy techniques that he, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) use.

While it is not revealed if Laura is an alias of Bobbi Morse AKA Mockingbird, who married Clint in Marvel Comics. This puts a previous version of Mockingbird seen in SHIELD as another piece of proof that it is no longer canon.

The only problem  – Marvel Television previously used the character of Bobbi Morse AKA Mockingbird on Agents of SHIELD played by Adrianne Palicki. And if they are replacing her that means that Marvel Studios is putting another nail in the coffin of the hope Marvel fans have ever seeing Agent of SHIELD characters like Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) or Daisy Johnson AKA Quake (Chloe Bennet) again.

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Who is Mockingbird?

marvel comics cover mockingbird 1 2016 by joelle jones bobbi morse
Credit: Marvel Comics

Bobbi Morse first appeared as Mockingbird in Marvel Team-Up #95 (1980) by Steven Grant and Frank Miller. She also went by other names like Huntress and Mrs. Hawkeye. She was an Agent of SHIELD for many years. She meant Clint when she worked freelance and helped defeat Crossfire, who deafened Hawkeye during the battle.

After the two were married, they joined the West Coast Avengers. The Hawkeye series has already teased the West Coast Avengers with the Easter Egg that Kate’s aunt is Moira Brandon, who funded the team. Mockingbird is most known for the use of her icon weapon, her battle staves.

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Other Ways the MCU has been Erasing Agents of SHIELD in Phase Four

Agents of Shield (left) adrianne palinski as Bobbi Morse AKA Mockingbird (Right) Nick Blood as Lance Hunter
Credit: ABC/ Marvel Televison

Marvel fans have been begging for the Agents of SHIELD to return ever since it went off the air in 2020. Some thought that Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) and Leo Fitz (Ian De Caestecker) could return in Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021) along with the other cameo from other universes like Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. And others were hoping that Melinda May (Ming-Na Win) could show up in Secret Invasion.

If Laura Barton is secretly Bobbi Morse, then it looks like Adrianne Palicki’s take on the character will never be seen again. But this is far from the first time the new Marvel shows have but doubt on whether Agents of SHIELD is cannon. WandaVision brought the Darkhold to the MCU even though it was a major plot point of Agents of SHIELD season 4.

Related: Feige Teases Secret ‘Young Avengers’ Project

More on Hawkeye

clint barton, hawkeye
Credit: Marvel Studios

The official description of the newest television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe reads:

“Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” stars Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, who teams up with another well-known archer from the Marvel comics, Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The cast also includes Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, Tony Dalton, Zahn McClarnon, Brian d’Arcy James and newcomer Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez. “Hawkeye” is helmed by Rhys Thomas and directing duo Bert and Bertie. “Hawkeye” debuts on Disney+ Nov. 24, 2021.”

The series pulls heavily from the Hawkeye Marvel Comic by Matt Fraction and David Aja while adding in elements about his family that was first introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). This includes his wife Laura, who clearly has some secrets as well as his sons Cooper Barton (Ben Sakamoto), Nathaniel Barton (Cade Woodward), and his daughter Lila Barton (Ava Russo).

Let us know in the comments if you think this theory holds water and if it would mean Agents of SHIELD will never be canon.

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